The Valuable Hawaiian Tikis

Tikis are very significant to the people of Hawaii. These are the wooden hand-carved figures that were meant to symbolize the islands’ guardians, chief gods, as well as spirit powers.

The early people of the Hawaiian Islands traveled from Polynesia roughly a thousand years ago and they brought with them several religious and sacred beliefs. The tikis are the representation of the numerous gods of both Polynesia and Hawaii. According to Polynesian mythology, the tiki usually stands for the first human being on the planet.

Oahu wedding photo with tikis

In Hawaii, the tikis were hand-carved in order to symbolize a particular god’s image along with the depiction of the god’s or power. The ancient Hawaiians believed that by means of the beautifully crafted tikis, it is quite possible that the people would strengthen their force in the event of a war, be shielded from any harm, and also be granted with thriving crops.

The leading gods of Hawaii that were exemplified by their tiki representations consist of Ku, which was the war god; Lono, which was the peace and agriculture god; Kane, which was the god of creation, jungles, sunlight, and fresh water; and Kanaloa, which was the god of the underwater world.

King Kamehameha II put an end to the early practice of religion called aikapu during 1819. Most of the ancient temples as well as spiritual images like tikis were ruined. But then, there are still several tiki relics that remain until now in honor of the era when austere religious convictions ran the ancient Hawaii people.

The tikis could take various crafted forms such as the huge sculptures, petroglyphs imprinted into rocks, god-like images engraved into boats or drums, as well as tattoo designs on one’s body. The artistic similarities produced in the tikis reveal such a superior level of workmanship and meticulousness. The most familiar tiki figure has a well-built, sturdy body that has a rectangular head and appears to be sporting a headdress. This mystifying character is somewhat an intimidating figure, complete with huge eyes and a war-like stance.

Ever since the 1930s, a tiki culture that represents the island lifestyle started to form around these unusual sculptures. There was a growth of tiki-themed restaurants that featured tiki torches, tiki carvings, rattan furniture, as well as bamboo or wooden products. Tiki bars were also put up and these bars offered mai tais in addition to other island cocktails. When Hawaii was made a state during 1959, the aloha shirt, the tiki culture, plus all the other island icons became unbelievably a huge hit all over the country. check out this hawaii tiki wedding

These days, one would be able to find some gigantic wooden figures in some key locations around the Aloha State, which includes the Polynesian Cultural Center located at the North Shore of Oahu. At La Marianas on Honolulu’s Sand Island, which is considered as Hawaii’s most renowned tiki bar, guests would be able to take pleasure in some tropical drinks among a great number of tiki memorabilia. Visitors of the state would definitely come across a tiki image wherever they go but these are not just any old figures, for they used to represent the ancient Hawaiian gods.  Article by Oahu wedding and wedding themes

The Hawaiian Island of Niihau

Niihau is the smallest in terms of area among all the populated Hawaiian Islands. It has an area of roughly 69.5 square miles and it is on this island that a person could find Lake Halulu, which is the state’s only natural lake.

The entire island of Niihau in Hawaii was previously sold for a mere sum of $10,000. These days, one would not even be able to purchase a house for that little money. During 1863, the monarch back then called King Kamehameha IV placed Niihau up for sale for the said amount. Elizabeth Sinclair, who was a local of the nearby island of Kauai, chose to buy the island and it was said that she decided to purchase Niihau instead of other properties such as Pearl Harbor or Waikiki. At the moment, the Robinson family particularly Keith and Bruce Robinson, who are Elizabeth’s descendants, are the proud owners of this tiny Hawaiian Island. They are dedicated in preserving the island of Niihau and to also uphold the Hawaiian heritage. Nowadays, Niihau is considered as the epitome of the Hawaiian Islands and it is the sole island where Hawaiian is the primary as well as the chief language used.

The island of Niihau is also dubbed as The Mystery Island and The Forbidden Island since people who are not native Hawaiians are not permitted to visit there. This exclusive island could only be visited by kin of the Robinson family, government officials, U.S. Navy personnel, as well as invited guests. These days, there are around 250 native Hawaiian citizens living on the island of Niihau and what is fascinating is that their lifestyle has not changed throughout the years. One would not be able to find any shops or restaurants on Niihau. There are also no paved roads, no cars, no hotels, and even no electricity. Life on this island is truly simple and the only means to travel around here is either by foot or by using a bike.

The lone work available on this island is at the ranch of the Robinson family and this is where most of the locals work by raising some cattle. Of course, they also get their food from the Robinson ranch. Moreover, Niihau’s residents also produce some fruits and vegetables on their own. They also do activities such as fishing as well as hunting using spears, knives, ropes and nets. Their hunting equipment is mostly self-made and they also purchase some tools from the island of Kauai.

This island is really dry so one could not expect to see some tropical and lush landscapes just like the other islands of Hawaii. Instead of the flower leis that are typical with the other Hawaiian Islands, the people of Niihau make some amazing shell leis made from the unique shells that could only be found on the island’s beaches. Because these kinds of shells are truly rare, there are collectors who are prepared to pay a huge amount for the shell lei of Niihau.  http://www.bluehawaiiweddings.com/molokai_package.html

 

Tourists could still  have a close up view of Niihau since there are snorkeling and helicopter tours that are available. Since disembarking on any island beach is not permitted, they would only be allowed to snorkel in one of Niihau’s bays without stepping on the island’s soil.

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Show Respect to the Sacred Sites of Hawaii

Aside from its sun-kissed beaches, Hawaii is also home to several sacred places that have considerable historical as well as cultural importance. Plenty of these sacred sites bore witness to essential historic Hawaiian events like births of kings, human sacrifices, and other key events that happened in the past. These days, Hawaii locals believe that these sacred spots are truly a significant element of their rich culture and they are always respectful whenever they drop by these sites. Tourists should also show respect when they are visiting a Hawaiian sacred place and they should always abide by a few simple rules. The rules for each site are typically explained on a large sign located close to the sacred spot. Some normal rules include not climbing or stepping on the site as well as not making any noise and not removing or moving any items in the place.

On the Big Island, the Puu Loa Petroglyphs is believed to be holy grounds among the locals for this is where the Hawaiian fathers go to set down their babies’ umbilical cords to wish them a long life. This wide petroglyph land could be reached by travelers via a hike from the Chain of Craters Road. Kauai is home to a sacred place called the Wailua River State Park. This is thought of as among the most important cultural places of the state because this park has a lot of historical treasures that vary from early Hawaiian art to some temple ruins.

One of Lanai’s most sacred spots is the Halulu Heiau. This heiau is known as the preferred fishing site of King Kamehameha and for that reason, he constructed a temple here. The Halulu Heiau is among the ultimate sacred temples erected in Hawaii before the missionaries arrived in the state. The Piilanihale Heiau is a sacred place in Maui and it is a part of the celebrated Kahanu Garden. The Piilanihale Heiau is declared as a National Historic Landmark and it is also acknowledged as the biggest ancient temple in the entire Polynesian region. There are large and impressive lava rock terraces found in this heiau that were put up in the 13^th century.

The Halawa Valley is a sacred site found in Molokai. This valley is the spot where a lot of people lived and labored in the fields back in the olden times. There are also numerous ancient temples that tourists could visit here. On Oahu, travelers could check out the Kapaemahu Stones. These 4 huge stones named Kahaloa, Kinohi, Kapaemahu, and Kapuni are very significant in the island. According to legends, the priests or kahunas have stored their magnificent powers in these 4 historic rocks. These days, this well-known landmark depicts the vivid history of the island of Oahu.

A great idea when going to a sacred site in the Aloha State is to offer a little gift like some nuts, fruits, or a lei. Presenting a small token to the spirits is sort of an unwritten rule and plenty of people offer these gifts at any sacred place. Visiting these sacred sites is a good way for tourists to get to learn more about the Hawaiian Islands.